Variabilidad circadiana de la tasa de captura y la estructura de tallas en camarones e ictiofauna acompañante en la pesquería de arrastre del Mar Caribe de Colombia

Diel-associated changes of catch rates and size-structure of shrimp (Farfantepenaeus notialis and F. bra- siliensis), incidental catches, discards and the twelve most caught fish species of each of the two shrimp trawling fishing zones (northern and southern) of the Colombian Caribbean Sea were examined. Data were obtained by on board observers between July and September 2004. Although individuals shrimps in daytime catches were larger in size, shrimp catch rates were significantly higher at nightime, wich confirm the nocturnal activity of the shimps (Penaeidae).Higher catch rates and few large individuals of predator fish species were observed during daytime. The total catch (mostly discarded, small-sized species) was significantly higher at night. Observed circadian variability in catch rates and size composition suggests diel rhythms in activity of examined species and indicates that the abundance indexes can be biased if sampling is not randomised by time of day. High amounts of discarded small sized individuals reveal a heavy fishing pressure in the region and indicate the urgent need for management measures to mitigate impacts of trawling.